Protective device for conveyors

ABSTRACT

A device for protecting a conveyor which carries metal workpieces as they undergo a flame-cutting operation. Intended particularly for conveyors which carry continuously cast products as segments are cut therefrom. Conveyor includes endless chains and slats extending between chains. Flame-cutting apparatus travels in synchronism with workpiece as it cuts and sometimes lies directly over a slat. Protective device overlies such slat and workpiece rests thereon. Damage is confined to protective device if flame-cutting apparatus lies directly thereover.

United States Patent Bode, Jr. 1 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] PROTECTIVE DEVICEFOR 2,974,387 3/1961 Tomkins ..2S/l42 D CONVEYORS 3,226,101 12/ 1965Balaz ..266/5 R X [72] lnvemor: Charles H. Bode, Jr. pp st 3,251,5885/1966 French ..266/4 R X Clan Allegheny f Primary Examiner-J. SpencerOverholser 1 Asslgneei United States Steel Corporation AssistantExaminer-John S. Brown 22 Filed: Jan. 8, 1971 WW-Walter W [21] Appl.No.: 104,886 57 ABSTRACT A device for protecting a conveyor whichcarries 52 US. Cl. ..266/23 R, 198/193, 263/8 R metal workpieces as theyundergo a flamwmng [51] lltt. C1. ..B23k 7/02 operation Intendedparticularly for conveyors which [5 new of Search "266/23 23 23 23 carrycontinuously cast products as segments are cut 266/23 HH, 4 R, 5 R;198/134, 193; 263/8 A, 8 R, 28, 50; 25/142 D, 142 R; 425/DIG.

therefrom. Conveyor includes endless chains and slats extending betweenchains. Flame-cutting apparatus 108 travels in synchronism withworkpiece as it cuts and sometimes lies directly over a slat. Protectivedevice [56] References cued overlies such slat and workpiece reststhereon. UNITED STATES PATENTS Damage is confined to protective deviceif flame 1 906 092 4,1933 P t 263/8 A cutting apparatus lies directlythereover.

e erson 2,583,002 1/1952 Maxon ..266/23 F 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 9jg I l I /7 L 8 Patented Au 29, 1972 3,687,433

2 Sheets-Sheet l I/WE/V TOR. CHARL E5 h. 8005, JR.

A/forney Patented Aug. 29, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I CHARL E5"5005, JR.

A! forhey PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR CONVEYORS This invention relates to animproved device for protecting a conveyor which carries metal workpiecesas they undergo flame-cutting.

Although my invention is not thus limited, the device is particularlyuseful when applied to a conveyor which carries a continuously castproduct while segments of specified length are cut therefrom. Commonlythe conveyor includes a pair of power-driven endless chains along itsopposite sides and metal slats extending between chains. The producttravels continuously as it comes from the casting machine, and it restson the slats while it is being cut. After the proper length of productpasses the flame-cutting apparatus, the apparatus is clamped to theproduct and travels in synchronism therewith during the cuttingoperation. One problem is that the cutting torches sometimes liedirectly over one of the slats while they make their cut. When thishappens, the flames may damage the slat, and also slag which forms asthe product is cut collects on the slat.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved device forsupporting a workpiece in spaced relation above the slats of a conveyorof the foregoing type, which device effectively protects the slats fromthe torches of the cutting apparatus.

A further object is to provide a protective device which I removablyaffix to a conveyor slat and replace readily whenever the device itselfis burned or otherwise damaged. I

A further object is to provide a protective device which minimizes thearea of contact between a conveyor and a workpiece carried thereon,thereby minimizing formation of cold spots on a hot workpiece.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away of a portion of aconveyor equipped with my protective devices;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on line II-II of FIG. 1, omitting thecutting apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on line III-III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one of my protective devices.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a portion of a conveyor which includes a fixed frame10, a pair of endless chains 12 supported along opposite sides of theframe, and a plurality of relatively high narrow slats 13 mounted on thechains and extending transversely of the frame. The conveyor includessuitable mechanism (not shown) for driving the chains. The slats supporta workpiece W, such as a product of indefinite length formed in acontinuous-casting operation. A flame-cutting apparatus 14 is supportedon rails 15 for travel lengthwise of the conveyor above the workpiece.The cutting apparatus travels in synchronism with the workpiece as itcuts a segment therefrom and then returns quickly to its startingposition to await the next cut. This form of cutting apparatus is known;hence I have not included a detailed showing. Reference can be made toMc- Dermott US. Pat. No. 3,227,432 or to Greenberger US. Pat. No.3,443,805 for showings of two examples of such apparatus. The cuttingoperation produces slag, which falls into a chute 16 beneath thecarrying flight of the conveyor (FIG. 2).

The protective device of my invention includes a continuous angle iron17, the respective legs of which overlie the outer face and one sideface of a slat 13. Flat bar segments 18 overlie the other side face ofthe slat. A plurality of bolts 19 removably affix the angle iron and barsegments to the slat. On the carrying flight of the conveyor, the leg ofthe angle iron overlying the outer face of the slat is horizontal. Tothis leg I weld a plurality of upstanding short, similar-length angleirons 20. The legs of angle irons 20 lie at approximately 45 angles tothe edges of angle iron 17 (FIG. 4). I equip all the slats with similarprotective devices.

In operation, the workpiece W rests on the upper edges of the angleirons 20. If the torches of the flame cutting apparatus 14 happen to liedirectly over a slat 13 while they make a cut, any damage is confined tothe protective device. The angle irons 20 tend to divert slag to thechute 16 when slag falls on the protective device. A damaged protectivedevice is easily and cheaply removed and replaced. If the workpiece is acontinuously cast product, it is at a high temperature when the conveyorreceives it. The edges of the angle irons 20 have a relatively smallarea of contact with the workpiece and thus minimize formation of coldspots.

I claim:

1. In combination with a conveyor and a flamecutting apparatus supportedto travel lengthwise of the conveyor thereabove, said conveyorcomprising:

a fixed frame;

a pair of endless chains supported on said frame along its oppositesides; and

a plurality of relatively high narrow slats mounted on the chains andextending transversely of the frame; said conveyor being adapted tosupport a workpiece while said apparatus travels in synchronismtherewith and cuts the workpiece; protective devices for said slats,each of said comprising:

an angle iron overlying the outer face and one side face of one of saidslats;

means removably affixing said angle iron to its slat;

and

a plurality of upstanding short similar length pieces fixed to theportion of the angle iron overlying the outer face of the slat;

said pieces being adapted to have the workpiece rest thereon, wherebydamage is confined to the protective device when the cutting means ofsaid apparatus lies directly over a slat during a cutting operation.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said pieces are angleirons, the legs of which lie at angles of approximately 45 to the edgesof said first-named angle iron.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 further including a chute beneathsaid conveyor for receiving slag produced in the cutting operation, saidsecondnamed angle irons being adapted to divert slag which falls on theprotective device into said chute.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the means affixing saidangle iron to its slat includes a plurality of bar segments overlyingthe other side face of the slat, and bolts extending through said barsegments, slats and angle iron.

devices

1. In combination with a conveyor and a flame-cutting apparatussupported to travel lengthwise of the conveyor thereabove, said conveyorcomprising: a fixed frame; a pair of endless chains supported on saidframe along its opposite sides; and a plurality of relatively highnarrow slats mounted on the chains and extending transversely of theframe; said conveyor being adapted to support a workpiece while saidapparatus travels in synchronism therewith and cuts the workpiece;protective devices for said slats, each of said devices comprising: anangle iron overlying the outer face and one side face of one of saidslats; means removably affixing said angle iron to its slat; and aplurality of upstanding short similar length pieces fixed to the portionof the angle iron overlying the outer face of the slat; said piecesbeing adapted to have the workpiece rest thereon, whereby damage isconfined to the protective device when the cutting means of saidapparatus lies directly over a slat during a cutting operation.
 2. Acombination as defined in claim 1 in which said pieces are angle irons,the legs of which lie at angles of approximately 45* to the edges ofsaid first-named angle iron.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 2further including a chute beneath said conveyor for receiving slagproduced in the cutting operation, said second-named angle irons beingadapted to divert slag which falls on the protective device into saidchute.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the meansaffixing said angle iron to its slat includes a plurality of barsegments overlying the other side face of the slat, and bolts extendingthrough said bar segments, slats and angle iron.